Myuran Sukumaran

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Bali Nine ringleader, Myuran Sukumaran.
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Bali Nine ringleader, Myuran Sukumaran.

Myuran Sukumaran (b. April 17, 1981), a London born Sri Lankan-Tamil-Australian martial arts expert from Auburn, New South Wales, Australia, is a convicted "ringleader" of the heroin smuggling operation from Indonesia to Australia known as the Bali Nine. Sukumaran was sentenced to execution by firing squad by the Denpasar District Court on 14 February 2006. Sukumaran was unknown to police [1] until his arrest in Indonesia on April 17, 2005.

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[edit] Early life

Sukumaran attended schools with Chan in Sydney before gaining work in a bank and later the passport office in Sydney.

[edit] Arrest in Indonesia

Sukumaran was arrested in Indonesia on his 24th birthday along with eight other Australians [2]. Four of the final nine arrested, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush of Brisbane, and Martin Stephens and Renae Lawrence of New South Wales, were arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport as they prepared to board an Australia-bound flight, and were all carrying quantities of heroin in plastic bags strapped to their bodies. Among them they were carrying more than 8.3 kilograms of heroin.

Sukumaran was discovered with three others in the Melasti Hotel on Bali's Kuta Beach with five mobile phones and 350 grams of heroin. He denied any involvement with the heroin seized at the airport or any heroin located at the premises upon his arrest [3].

On the same evening, Andrew Chan, accused of being the organiser of the drug smuggling plan, was removed from a commercial flight about to depart for Australia. Chan was carrying no drugs upon his arrest.

[edit] Criminal trial

[edit] "Amnesia" defence

During the separate trial of fellow defendant, Michael Czugaj, Sukumaran refused to give testimony, stating "...I am also on trial" [4]. He has denied knowing fellow accused Michael Czugaj and Scott Rush, or any knowledge of a heroin importation plan [5]. During his trial Sukumaran frequently blamed amnesia on his inability to remember events leading to his arrest [6].

Sukumaran denied signing police statements, and when asked by judges to sign his name as an example of his signature, signed his name in four different styles [7].

[edit] Demand for the death penalty

On January 24, 2006, prosecutors handed down demands for the death penalty for Sukumaran, the first time a demand of death was put forward by prosecutors for any of the Bali Nine. Prosecutors told a Bali court there was no reason to show any leniency because he helped organise the heroin smuggling operation. Prosecutors also claim Sukumaran strapped heroin to the bodies of the fellow accused. Indonesian police identified Sukumaran as one of the main players in what they say was a major smuggling ring [8]. Fellow accused ringleader, Andrew Chan was also sentenced to death earlier the same day.

After learning of his fate, Sukumaran was provoked by photographers and threw a water bottle at protesters and onlookers gathered outside the court building [9].

Australian Prime Minister, John Howard said the Australian government would oppose any death sentences imposed, saying "We have a long-standing opposition to the death penalty and it's well known that if a death penalty is imposed on an Australian we ask that that death penalty not be imposed." [10].

[edit] See also

[edit] References


Bali Nine
Andrew Chan | Si Yi Chen | Michael Czugaj | Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen | Matthew Norman
Renae Lawrence | Scott Rush | Martin Stephens | Myuran Sukumaran
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